Officials from Xiamen foreign affairs office attend a European culture forum by video on May 20. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
The novel coronavirus pandemic may have restricted movement around the world, but it cannot stop international exchange and cooperation.
Amid the global health crisis, the foreign affairs office of Xiamen, Fujian province has been proactive in contacting its international partners online and helping them purchase essential supplies to fight the disease.
To date, the office has helped the government of the Netherlands procure one million COIVD-19 test kits developed by Xiamen University and Wantai BioPharm. A total of 100,000 medical face masks bought by the city of Nice, France from Xiamen have also arrived at the destination.
Meanwhile, purchases by several other cities and institutions, including Cardiff in the United Kingdom, the Consulate General of Thailand in Xiamen, and the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou are still being finalized.
The office has also worked with related local departments to ensure the smooth delivery of medical supplies, receiving 35 chartered flights from countries such as Austria and Ukraine.
In addition to international trade, the office has also been active in facilitating cultural exchange between countries.
It took part in an online European culture forum at the invitation of its friendship city Kaunas in Lithuania on May 20 and joined the discussion on innovative cultural development with institutions from Poland, Denmark, Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
